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Title 38, Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-102

§1719 Repair or Replacement of Certain Prosthetic and Other Appliances

Title 38 › PART II — GENERAL BENEFITS › CHAPTER 17 — HOSPITAL, NURSING HOME, DOMICILIARY, AND MEDICAL CARE › SUBCHAPTER II — HOSPITAL, NURSING HOME, OR DOMICILIARY CARE AND MEDICAL TREATMENT › § 1719

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary can repair or replace a veteran’s own artificial limb, truss, brace, hearing aid, glasses, or similar non‑dental device when the veteran needs it and it was damaged or destroyed by a fall or other accident caused by a service‑connected disability. This help applies if the veteran gets disability compensation for that disability, or would be entitled to it if not receiving retirement pay.

Full Legal Text

Title 38, §1719

Veterans' Benefits, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Secretary may repair or replace any artificial limb, truss, brace, hearing aid, spectacles, or similar appliance (not including dental appliances) reasonably necessary to a veteran and belonging to such veteran which was damaged or destroyed by a fall or other accident caused by a service-connected disability for which such veteran is in receipt of, or but for the receipt of retirement pay would be entitled to, disability compensation.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1991—Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), renumbered section 619 of this title as this section. Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”. 1976—Pub. L. 94–581 substituted “belonging to such veteran” for “belonging to him”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1976 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 94–581 effective Oct. 21, 1976, see section 211 of Pub. L. 94–581, set out as a note under section 111 of this title.

Effective Date

Pub. L. 87–850, § 2, Oct. 23, 1962, 76 Stat. 1126, provided that: “The amendment made by this Act [enacting this section] shall apply only with respect to the repair or replacement of artificial limbs, trusses, braces, hearing aids, spectacles, and similar devices damaged or destroyed after the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 23, 1962].”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

38 U.S.C. § 1719

Title 38, Veterans' Benefits

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102